Boy cards are hard. While I don't find myself to be too particularly girlie, I still struggle with boy cards. Especially when I'm trying to create for one of the many teenagers in my life! It's a fine line between cool and uncool--I'm told ;)

So, I started this card for my nephew with some embossing. I embossed a sentiment from Sweet N Sassy's Birthday Bash Clear Stamp Set on water color paper. Then, using distress inks and a water color drip technqiue, I added some color. Once the color was around the sentiment, I used a micron marker to outline for a little extra "pop"!

I couldn't resist a few embellishments--a few star sequins and some white dots. Not too girlie--right?

Monday, March 21, 2016

Happy Easter Week! It's Monday and that makes it an I Brake For Stamps kind of day! After a long week, last week, I was able to spend some time in the Studio. It was good for my soul and now, I have lots of projects to share!

Easter kind of snuck up on me this year so, instead of a cute bunny (get this one....there's only TWO left!) or a little chick (this one is going FAST!) or these that you can get RIGHT away, this week, I have flowers!

I love I Brake For Stamps' beautiful Kerr jar
image and I know I've used it a bunch, but it's just so darn fun to
color! Visit my Enjoy post or Lacey Spring Flowers to see some other Kerr inspiration.

I was in the mood to water color--I've been working on the no
line water color technique. You can see the ink I used to stamp this
so, I'm not quite there, but I like the finished product just the same
;)

Spring is a time for new so, if you are itching for some new goodies of the stampy kind, go visit my pal, Della, and pick up a few things--you can save using my code: SAVE10JANE. Have fun!

Friday, March 11, 2016

I'm patiently (not really) waiting for my new Journaling Bible to arrive. I'm just itching to start my first entry. In the meantime, I do still enjoy my Scripture-dex (I'm borrowing this term from another brilliant stamper!), but find the smaller platform limiting and and constricting. Originally, it was the small card that attracted me to the idea, but I think I'm ready for a bigger canvas!

From Psalms 63:7, I find such a beautiful word picture of singing my praises tucked safely and securely beneath the wings of He who made me.....

Monday, March 7, 2016

Happy Monday! It's back to schedules, work and routine after a great and relaxing weekend of doing whatever the moment held! I love weekends like that....they make life sweet--don't you think?

Every so often, I like to drag out a little used product and
goof around with it. Lately, my water color crayons have been on my
mind. I haven't used them in years. I've been doing a lot of water coloring with ink and thought maybe I'd try something new for a bit.

I chose Floral Silhouette Bouquet, from I Brake For Stamps, for my first card. After coloring with various crayons directly onto the stamp surface, I lightly
misted with water and stamped on smooth card stock. When it
was completely dry, I outlined the entire image with an ultra fine black
marker, Pigma Micron 005, to be specific. It's an interesting look--the outcome is hugely dependent on the image and a steady hand! I'll have to keep at it :)

My second card, includes a similar technique to create the background. For this one, I used the diamond background stamp from Typewriter/Diamonds Half Sheet. I finished the card off with a sentiment from the Binoculars and Golf Ball Half Sheet. Both sheets can be found in the I Brake For Stamps store. You can save by using my coupon code--SAVE10JANE

Friday, March 4, 2016

Happy FRIDAY!!! Today's project is a colorful one I created using my Gel Press Printing Plate from Technique Junkies. I also used some acrylic paint and a few other odds and ends! I love using the printing plates and have found need for one of every size! Even my kiddo's like to use them. I wish I had discovered them years ago when we were heavy into finger painting! I was lucky enough to get several background pieces from just one inking of the plate.

Once dry, I punched several differently sized circles from the background piece and then layered it over a second background. For the second background, I used kraft cardstock, black ink and one of my favorite stamps, Fresh Chevron, To finish things off, I added Rain Dance and Always Find A Song--all from Technique Junkies.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Happy Wednesday, Friends! Today, I am sharing a new stamp set from Sweet N Sassy Stamps! I adore this particular image and sentiment more than I can say. Just reading those words makes me what to break out into song.......Francesca Battistelli's song, Holy Spirit, specifically! If you are not familiar, here are some of the lyrics, but I encourage a good listen!

"Holy Spirit"
There's nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You're our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I've tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord

[Chorus:]
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Your presence, Lord

All this stampy goodness can be found in the Sweet N Sassy set called I Am Loved.! It's perfection!
After stamping the worship girl image, I added color by layering water colors loosely around the image. I rarely do white on white, but this piece seemed to call for it. Perfectly simple.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

March on over to the Technique Junkie Blog if you haven't started at the very beginning of this HOP!! It is hop-tastic, people, and you are not going to want to miss a thing!!

Since you've been on the right trail, you've just made it here from the incredibly talented Kathy Stacy's blog!! I am forever amazed by the creativity of that woman!!

I won't lie....this is my favorite hop card so far! I {adore} the little owl couple, am completely in love with the sentiment from Double Weird Sayings because it's how I live my life and could NOT be more pleased with the output from my Gel Press printing! I used a common house hold item to add the circles---anyone wanna guess what I used?

Speaking of favorites....this background, Vintage Butterfly Collection, has so much potential....I fear I may have not completely done it justice. I used dylusions to color my resist and then used the Diagonal Popped Strips tutorial to complete the backdrop for my favorite verse, Believe In Yourself! You can find the Diagonal Popped Strips tutorial on the TJ CD12. It's a good one, so be sure to grab it while you can!